X-rays on Justin Turner's wrist negative after scare

By Jorge Castillo

Sep 15, 2018 | 4:55 PM

|St. Louis

Everyone in a Dodger uniform at Busch Stadium on Saturday afternoon thought the same thing when they watched Justin Turner get hit on the left wrist by John Gant’s two-seam fastball. It was the same wrist Turner fractured in March. They all feared the worst.

But the Dodgers avoided the worst, thanks in part to the pad Turner now wears to protect the area. Turner stayed in the game and finished three for three with a walk. After the game, X-rays on the wrist were negative.

Manager Dave Roberts said he expects Turner will be in the lineup Sunday. Turner said it will depend on how the wrist feels after icing and wrapping it.

“It didn't feel good,” Turner said. “I had the pad on there, but I still felt it. It took me a couple minutes to get my bearings a little bit. I wanted to stay in and run the bases, do some grip tests and strength tests afterward. Felt that it was OK enough to keep going."

Losing Turner, arguably the best hitter in the National League since the All-Star break, for any amount of time would be crushing for the Dodgers as they battle for a playoff spot with 13 games to play. They are 49-31 in games he starts and 33-36 in games he doesn’t.

Axford, Cingrani to join team Monday

John Axford and Tony Cingrani are expected to rejoin the club and come off the disabled list Monday in Los Angeles, Roberts said. Both relievers pitched for single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday night.

Axford gave up a run in two-thirds of an inning. He walked a batter, threw a wild pitch and yielded an RBI double. Cingrani struck out two and issued a walk in one inning.

Roberts said he isn’t sure how and when they will be used. He hinted that Cingrani, who has been out since early June with a shoulder injury, could still pitch in simulated games before appearing in a game for Los Angeles. Despite his struggles Friday, Axford is closer to pitching in a meaningful game. He fractured his fibula last month.

Rotation vs. Rockies set

Hyun-Jin Ryu, Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler are slated to start in the Dodgers’ three-game series against the Rockies in Los Angeles next week, Roberts announced.